Why Graduate Studies in Medical Sciences?

Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences and Professional Master of Medical Sciences are offered through a partnership between the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences (DBMS), Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME), and Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME). The programs are designed to enhance students’ research and clinical skills to align with the requirements of the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) process and to promote research and scholarship activities in future physicians. The main goals of the programs are to engage students to explore current issues in medical sciences and to enhance students’ clinical skills in the context of the Canadian healthcare system.

Opportunities

The programs in Medical Sciences have been developed to provide graduates of medical schools, both in Canada and internationally, with an opportunity to enhance their clinical and research skills before applying to a postgraduate residency program. Students will build on the foundations of their medical degree in a variety of ways. They will further develop their clinical skills in the context of the Canadian healthcare system and explore current issues in medical sciences. They’ll interpret foundational research and its relationship to clinical practice, conduct research responsibly using appropriate guidelines and procedures, and apply ethical behaviours consistent with academic integrity and professional standards.

The Graduate Diploma and Professional Master of Medical Sciences are expected to prove beneficial when graduates submit their applications for postgraduate residency positions. The residency admission process, coordinated through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), is highly selective and applicants will be well-positioned to demonstrate the new clinical and research skills they have developed through these programs.

Career paths – employment opportunities

For graduates of medical school, the ultimate goal is to become an independently licensed physician who can practice medicine in a wide variety of clinical settings. In order to earn such an independent license, students must first complete a postgraduate medical education residency program.

During residency, some learners will develop a special interest in research and wish to combine this with their clinical training. This can be done through a clinician investigator program, an intensive, research-based program involving a minimum two years of structured, rigorous research training in addition to the existing specialty program requirements. This program prepares learners for careers as clinician scientists who will become not only researchers, but clinicians, supervisors, mentors, teachers, and academics in general.

Both programs in Medical Sciences have been designed to foster the development of students’ professional identities and achieve their future career objectives as clinician scientists and medical science professionals. These programs are unique in Canada and will help address the growing demand for health care professionals who require advanced knowledge regarding both research and clinical skills.

Degrees Offered / Program Structure

Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences - course-based program. Students may start either in July or January, and complete the program within 6 month.

Students in the Graduate Diploma program may elect to apply for the Professional Master of Medical Sciences OR they may ladder into other MSc programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Professional Master of Medical Sciences - coursework and a project. Students may start either in July or January, and complete the program in a year.

Students who complete the Professional Master and wish to pursue further training in research, may opt to apply for one of the PhD programs offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Professional Master of Medical Sciences - at a minimum, the completion of 24 credit units. In addition to the three courses required for the Graduate Diploma, the Professional Master also requires another clinical skills training course (MSCI 802, 6 credit units), and a research project in medical sciences (MSCI 898, 6 credit units).

Faculty

Biomedical & Molecular Sciences - see details of each faculty on the program website

Michael Adams, PhD

David Andrew, PhD

Brian Bennett, PhD

Madhuri Koti, DVM, PhD

Leslie Mackenzie, PhD

Thomas Massey, PhD

Donald Maurice, PhD

Christopher Nicol, PhD

James Reynolds, PhD

Louise Winn, PhD

Public Health Sciences - see details of each faculty on the program website

Please note that you MUST hold an MD in order to be considered for admission to our programs. Please also note that we do NOT accept international application for the academic year of 2017-2018.

In order to be considered for admission to both the Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences and the Professional Master of Medical Sciences, applicants need to hold an MD or equivalent from a medical school on the International Medical Education Directory, and have a B+ graduating average or higher in all postsecondary education. For those who are eligible to apply, students are required to submit:

Official Transcripts from all postsecondary education;

A Personal Statement indicating the alignment of the applicant’s background and career aspirations with the objectives of the program;

A Curriculum Vitae;

Two references from individuals familiar with the candidates academic and/or clinical performance;

Medical Student Performance Record or Dean’s Letter;

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY EMAIL UPON APPLICATION SUBMISSION.

Applicants, who hold an MD from a Canadian or U.S. university, will need to submit their score reports on Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I.

Applicants, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and hold an MD from a country other than Canada or the U.S., will need to submit their score reports on both Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) and National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination.

International applicants, who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, will need to submit their score reports on Medical Council of Canadian Evaluating Examination (MCCEE). Please note that we do NOT accept international application for the academic year of 2017-2018.

After review of the complete application, competitive candidates will be invited for an interview.

For those who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma and wish to apply for the Professional Master of Medical Sciences, applicants must obtain at least a B+ in all courses in their Graduate Diploma program and apply for the Professional Master within five years after completing the Graduate Diploma.

Language Requirements

Please note that we do NOT accept international application for the academic year of 2017-2018.

In cases where English is not the first language, nor was the language of instruction in medical school, applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. Those applicants will need to provide proof of English language proficiency through one of the following:

International English Language Testing System (Academic module) with a minimum score of 7 in each component, or

TOEFL iBT with a passing score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section.

Please note that these requirements are higher than the minimum standards set by the School of Graduate Studies. As these students will be involved in observing the clinical care of patients, and participating in the clinical team discussion about the investigation and management of their clinical problems and in the clinical assessment of standardized patients, a thorough understanding and ability to communicate in English is essential.

However, if in the 12 month period prior to the month of application, an applicant has studied for at least one complete year at a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction, a request to be exempted from the English language proficiency test requirement may be made to the Director of Admissions, School of Graduate Studies.

Application Deadline & Start Dates

The online application is now open

Application deadline (and all accompanying documents) – April 15th, 2018 for a July 1st 2018 start

And then send all your postsecondary official transcripts, Medical Student Performance Record or Dean’s Letter, official score reports of required exams (including both medical exams and language requirements), and two references (if choose not to submit electronically) to: